AeroVironment to Supply Raven Small UAS to US Army

The US Army awarded AeroVironment $45.2 million for RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on July 25, 2019.

The agreement includes Raven UAS and initial spares packages for the army’s Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB).Delivery is anticipated by January 2020, the company said in a statement Monday.

The SFAB are specialized units with the core mission to conduct training, advising, assisting, enabling and accompanying operations with allied and partner nations.

According to the company, the Raven is a low-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance intelligence UAS that can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation, utilizing the system's advanced avionics and precise GPS navigation. With a wingspan of 4.5 feet and a weight of 4.2 pounds, the hand-launched Raven provides aerial observation, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges up to 10 kilometers. The Raven with an optional stabilized gimbaled payload, delivers real-time color or infrared imagery to the ground control and remote viewing stations.